Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

We understand how difficult your lower back pain and leg symptoms have been. They can make even simple daily activities exhausting. One option that may help is a procedure called a Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion, or TLIF.

Here’s what that means:
In your lower back, one of the discs that normally cushions the bones has become damaged. That disc may be slipping, collapsing, or pressing on nerves, which causes the pain, sciatica, or weakness you’ve been feeling.

During the procedure:

·  We make small incisions on each side of your back to carefully reach the spine

·  The damaged disc is removed, and the nerves are gently freed from any pressure

·  We then place a small cage and bone graft into the empty disc space which restores proper spacing and alignment between the vertebrae

·  Finally, screws and rods are added to hold everything steady while the bones fuse together naturally over the coming months.

Because we use a minimally invasive approach, the surgery is easier on your body than traditional open fusion. That means:

·  Less muscle damage

·  Smaller incision and less blood loss

·  A faster, smoother recovery

Most patients notice significant improvement in back and leg pain soon after surgery, and stability in the spine is restored. While it takes several months for the fusion to fully heal, many people are able to return to light daily activities within just a few weeks.

The goal of TLIF is simple: to relieve the pressure on your nerves, stabilize your spine, and help you move and live with much less pain.